Teen suicides led to sprawling drug probe in Schenectady

Dozens charged after probe of narcotics ring whose members allegedly had ties to teen suicide victims

PAUL GRONDAHL Staff write, Times Union

By PAUL GRONDAHL Staff writer

Updated 12:36 am, Friday, May 27, 2011

U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian, left, speaks during a press conference to announce the arrest of dozens of people busted in an FBI investigation in Schenectady, NY, on Thursday, May 26, 2011.( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union )

U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian, left, speaks during a press...

U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian, left, speaks during a press conference to announce the arrest of dozens of people busted in an FBI investigation in Schenectady, NY , on Thursday May 26, 2011.( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union )

U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian, left, speaks during a press...

Schenectady DA Robert Carney,left, and U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian talk prior to a press conference to announce the arrest of dozens of people busted in an FBI investigation of gangs in Schenectady, NY Thursday May 26, 2011.( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union )

Schenectady DA Robert Carney,left, and U.S. Attorney Richard...

A map of arrests sits on display during a press conference to announce the arrest of dozens of people busted in an FBI investigation of gangs in Schenectady, NY Thursday May 26, 2011.( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union )

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SCHENECTADY -- An investigation into the suicides of teenage girls in 2008 and 2009 triggered a two-year federal probe of a local gang that culminated with the arrests on Thursday of 35 people who authorities say dealt drugs, shot at rival gang members and meted out violence across the city.

Nineteen of the suspects rounded up in early-morning raids on homes were indicted on federal racketeering charges that could put them in prison for decades. Other suspects were indicted on drug trafficking charges. Seized in the raids were $11,000 in cash, three handguns, an AK-47 assault rifle and 200 grams of crack cocaine. That's roughly one-half pound of the concentrated and highly addictive smokable rock form of the drug.

Officials said arrests are pending of at least nine more gang members.

"This is our latest effort to stamp out gang violence," Hartunian said, referencing two similar crackdowns on homegrown gangs in Albany: the Jungle Junkies in 2006 and the Original Gangsta Killers, known as OGK, in 2009. Six Syracuse gangs also have been prosecuted on similar charges. The Schenectady gang was called the Four Block gang.

Hartunian sent this message to would-be gang members: "Stop gang-banging and stop the violence. If you don't, you'll end up like Four Block, in a cell block."

"This dealt a significant blow to gangs," said Clifford Holly, FBI special agent-in-charge.

The Schenectady probe got its start when local authorities began looking into the suicides of girls who attended Schenectady High School.

District Attorney Robert M. Carney said police determined the girls had spent time with members of the Four Block gang. Some of the girls were part of a group referred to as the Hill Bitches.

Four Block gang members, who were mostly in their late teens to mid-20s, ruled a portion of Hamilton Hill near Vale Cemetery with guns, intimidation, threats of violence and retribution against rivals to protect their turf and a lucrative drug trade that included crack cocaine, powder cocaine and heroin. Authorities logged more than two dozen drug sales, nine gun incidents and two major acts of violence in that area in the past two years.

The gang's thuggery extended to a group of impressionable teenage girls who hung around the Four Block crew and tried to mimic their behavior to gain acceptance. Carney said that the gang members' methods of intimidation and control, including predatory sexual behavior, "led to lower self-esteem and a sense of worthlessness" among at least some of the four girls, who were as young as 14 and 15 when they took their own lives.

He said the indictments and arrests of Four Block gang members represented "some sense of justice for these girls."

As the local investigation began to unearth the outlines of a major drug trafficking operation, Carney said authorities asked the U.S. attorney's office, the State Police and the FBI to join their effort. Federal racketeering charges carry longer penalties than state charges, making a criminal case in federal court more appealing to authorities.

The Four Block gang, who used special hand signals and tagged their zone with graffiti to communicate, operated in the area of Hamilton Hill between State and Strong streets and Brandywine and Veeder avenues.

Most of the gang members lived in the city, but their alleged drug trafficking and violence extended to several surrounding counties and into Vermont, authorities said.

In addition to the RICO indictments, those charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess crack cocaine and heroin, which carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and a minimum penalty of 10 years, are: Deshae Harris, of Schenectady, 25; Kadeem Pell, of Schenectady, 23; DeShawn Tarver, of Schenectady, 23; Charles Edwards, of Schenectady, 23; Brian Wilder, of Clarendon, Vt., 40; Jamie Baker, of Rutland, Vt., 45; Val Socinski, of Rutland, Vt., 44; Kevin Roundsville, of Schuylerville, 47; and Charles Procella, of Whitehall, 34.

Investigators said the alleged drug network stretched from New York City to Schenectady and the drugs were transported upstate in small quantities known as "licks." The alleged sales took place not only in Schenectady but in the neighboring suburbs of Niskayuna and Glenville, as well as Saratoga Springs.

"But we can't prosecute our way out of these problems," Carney said. He added that anti-gang programs aimed at improving self-esteem have been started in the past two years and more than 100 teenaged girls have participated.

Teenaged boys at risk of joining gangs are the focus of Project S.A.V.E, or Schenectady Anti-Violence Empowerment, which organizes basketball nights and other activities at the Boys' and Girls' Club on Crane Street. It's run by Shariem Merritt and he's got 10 boys participating.

Merritt, 31, who grew up in Schenectady and served eight years in state prison after being convicted of selling crack cocaine, uses a scared straight approach.

"Hey, I've lived the life and I tell it to them straight," Merritt said. "That instant gratification of selling drugs brought me eight years in prison. I teach them about the consequences."

He said he worries about which way the 10 youths he's working with will end up turning. Some of them are younger brothers or relatives of those rounded up in the Four Block gang sweep.

"I hope they don't try to step up to fill those shoes," Merritt said. "If we get to them early enough, we can turn them around."